Abstract
The density of liquid iron has been determined up to 116 GPa and 4350 K via static compression experiments following an innovative analysis of diffuse scattering from liquid. The longitudinal sound velocity was also obtained to 45 GPa and 2700 K based on inelastic x-ray scattering measurements. Combining these results with previous shock-wave data, we determine a thermal equation of state for liquid iron. It indicates that Earth’s outer core exhibits 7.5%–7.6% density deficit, 3.7%–4.4% velocity excess, and an almost identical adiabatic bulk modulus, with respect to liquid iron.
- Received 6 August 2019
- Accepted 10 March 2020
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.165701
© 2020 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
synopsis
Liquid Iron’s Density in Extreme Conditions
Published 22 April 2020
The density of liquid iron is measured experimentally at conditions that match those inside Earth.
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